“Yesterday, I briefed Members of the Senate on chromium-6 in drinkingwater supplies as it relates to the recent Environmental Working Groupreport. EPA has already been working to review and incorporate theground-breaking science referenced in this report. However, as a motherand the head of EPA, I am still concerned about the prevalence ofchromium-6 in our drinking water.

Today, I am announcing a series of actions that the EPA will take overthe coming days to address chromium-6 in our drinking water. It is clearthat the first step is to understand the prevalence of this problem.While the EWG study was informative, it only provided a snapshot intime. EPA will work with local and state officials to get a betterpicture of exactly how widespread this problem is. In the meantime, EPAwill issue guidance to all water systems in the country to help themdevelop monitoring and sampling programs specifically for chromium-6.We will also offer significant technical assistance to the communitiescited in the EWG report with the highest levels of chromium-6 to helpensure they quickly develop an effective chromium-6 specific monitoringprogram.

The science behind chromium-6 is evolving. EPA is already on a pathtoward identifying and addressing any potential health threats fromexcessive, long-term exposure with its new draft assessment releasedthis past fall. This assessment still needs to be reviewed byindependent scientists as an essential step toward tightening drinkingwater standards for chromium-6. Strong science and the law willcontinue to be the backbone of our decision-making at EPA. EPA takesthis matter seriously and we will continue to do all that we can, usinggood science and the law, to protect people’s health and ourenvironment.”

Once EPA’s chromium-6 risk assessment is finalized, EPA will work quickly to determine if new standards need to be set. Based on the current draft assessment, which has yet to undergo scientific peer review, it is likely that EPA will tighten drinking water standards to address the health risks posed by chromium-6.”